3.5 rounded down

I love that this was set during the Gilded Age in NYC, it's not a popular time period for historical romances but it's so oppulent and fun. I was also super excited for the Irish myrhology aspect as it's something that's used a lot, but not always well or true to the myths. However, the mythology wasn't as large a part of the story as I thought it'd be. The fantasy in general was a bit lacking until the end, it felt more like a society historical fiction for most of the story.

Overall I enjoyed this, but certain aspects kept me fron fully engaging with the story. (Also there's a love triangle which I didn't expect. I'm not a fan of those as it's usually obvious how it'll pan out)

DNF 24%

Unfortunately the story took too long to set up and wasn’t interesting to me. The pacing was very slow and the world building really slowed things down. I was interested in Rua’s situation, but her flashbacks were too disconnected to keep me interested.

I love books that use mythology to inspire a fictional world and was really excited about this book! It had everything I love on paper-mythology, gilded age setting, enemies to lovers romance-but in execution it didn’t work for me. The writing style wasn’t engaging me as it was too repetitive with telling over showing and I never felt fully invested in the story or the characters. So sadly this was a DNF at 20% but I have no doubt this will work for others readers!

THE GODS TIME FORGOT

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Read this book if you like:
•historical fantasy
•Irish mythology
•Gilded Age New York
•fated mates

My favorite part of this book was the Gilded Age setting. I love historical fantasy and I really felt transported to the time period! I liked the unique use of an Irish myth to carry the plot.

Overall I enjoyed this book but it fell a little flat. Unfortunately the ending was rushed and it felt like things wrapped up a little too conveniently. I’m also bummed because I think this would have been a great YA novel genre if not for the one graphic make out scene.

*Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the eARC!

Such a promising set-up but overall just a mid-level execution that left me wanting more. However, I think many readers will connect with this historical fantasy read.

The good:
-1870’s Manhattan setting
-Fiercely independent FMC, Rua, challenging the status quo of the period
-Swoony MMC, Finn, and Irish immigrant angling for social climbing
-Witty banter, a terrible mother, lots of society back-stabbing and schemes
-Amnesia/hidden identities/Gods behaving badly

The criticisms:
-Pacing challenges; great start, meandering middle, rushed conclusion
-A bit of Groundhog Day without plot movement
-Needed more flashbacks or context for the Gods

I read this in tandem with the audiobook, and the narrators did a wonderful job. I’m a sucker for Irish accents, and both narrators did a great job with the Irish folklore snippets as well as capturing the fierce personalities of the main characters and their hypnotic pull towards one another.
I really loved the banter, tension, and characterization so I will absolutely check out what this author writes next!

I really enjoyed this book! With so many fantasy books on the market, this one really stood out and stood on its own. I loved the mythology thrown in and varying perspectives.

When Rua wakes up wedged into the narrow entrance of a cave, her memories have vanished except for her name and fleeting images of a life she can’t recall. When the wealthy Harrington family insists that she is their missing daughter Emma, she doesn’t see another option besides going along with it while she struggles to discover her truth. She grows increasingly frustrated with attempting to fit in as a young woman under pressure to make an advantageous match in New York society, and especially under the harsh criticisms of her supposed mother Flossie.

Finn, the Lord of Donore, is also new to wealthy New York society, trying to make the right connections to build his name and fortune. He feels a strange connection and attraction to the mysterious and unpredictable girl known as Emma but knows he must make a more stable match in order to secure his position.

Tensions mount as Rua slowly regains glimpses of who she really is, and her increasingly volatile reactions to mistreatment by her mother and jealous rivals cause Finn to be torn between protecting and avoiding her.

I was completely engaged with this story, wanting to know who Rua actually was and how she came to be in the cave. I loved the banter between her and Finn, and all the lovely descriptions of their outfits and the settings. I liked the mythological connections but wish they had been explored earlier in the book. The ending was so quick and dramatic; I was hoping for more of an explanation, just an expansion of what was happening. The whole story was so cinematic though, and so much fun picturing it all.

Thank you so much to Alcove Press for this gifted book!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Alcove Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Fantasy, YA Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Romantasy, Mythology, Irish Mythology, Dark Fantasy
Spice Level: Nothing really on the page

THE GODS TIME FORGOT swept me into Victorian New York with its scintillating parties, overlaid with dark magic.

The opening scene is gripping with this feeling of being buried alive—and it made me wonder about what would be unburied as the novel progressed.

Rua is stuck with this horrible dilemma of not knowing who she is, which gave a coming of age vibe to me. She also felt young, and so even though this is classified as an adult fantasy, I would include it in young adult.

The magic is darker than I expected. I actually thought this was a bonus and added to the creepy vibe and untamed magic of Ireland.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would read more.

Happy reading!

I was drawn to this for the promise of a fantasy romance with mythology set in the gilded age. I loved the setting of the gilded age New York with the clash of old and new money. I thought Flossie was a perfect side character and embodiment of everything the old money crowd hated about anyone with new money.
The mythology was very minimal. I felt there could have been a lot more. The weaving of the past and the present felt very choppy. I had a lot of questions about Finns past before he came to New York that were never answered. Rua was headstrong to the point of being obstinate a lot of times which I found annoying.
My biggest complaint about this book is the ending. There’s a ton of build up and then it just ends. It didn’t feel like things were truly resolved.

The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is billed as a romantasy, but reads more like a historical romance with a touch of fantasy. Rua emerges from a hellmouth in Manhattan during America’s Gilded Age knowing only two things: her name and that she is not Emma Harrington, a girl who is missing and looks exactly like her. With no memories. Rua goes along with the Harringtons, pretending to be their daughter and hoping to find answers to who she is. As she tries to blend into high society, Rua finds herself drawn to the Lord of Donore, but the question is why is he so familiar to her.

Rua is an interesting character. She is headstrong, feisty, and not at all what you’d expect from a high society young lady. Her mysterious appearance adds to the rumors as she discovers more and more about who Emma Harrington was before she disappeared. Rua’s inability to submit to her mother’s whims gets her into a lot of trouble early on with whisper of devil worshipping and witches. Her problems escalate when she catches the attention of Finn.

Finn is the enigmatic Lord of Donore, a wealthy and recent Irish immigrant to the States. He is building a hotel with Ned Harrington and the Fitzgeralds, who control the gossip and clout of New York’s high society. While he enjoys the work, he doesn’t enjoy the pretenses that come with it. When he meets Rua, he is intrigued and fascinated by her. Her, for lack of a better word, unfiltered opinions are a breath of fresh air compared to the duplicitous nature of the rest in their society. But more than that, he recognizes her on a soul deep level that he doesn’t quite understand.

I really wanted to love this book. I was so excited to read it, thinking that we’d have a lot of mythology built into the book, but alas that wasn’t the case. While billed as a romantasy, the fantasy portion made up *maybe* a quarter of the book, if that. There were a few memories that Rua remembered throughout the book, set aside in the text with italics, that featured her past life, but they were few and far between until the last 20% of the book. Seriously, I looked at when it all came to a head and I was at the 82% mark in my digital copy. Then the ending….it just ends. There’s this big build up, and then it is over. Unsatisfying to say the least.

Overall, The Gods Time Forgot was just okay for me. It wasn’t the best book, but also not the worst. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I’d known going in that the fantasy was light, and it focused more on the historical aspects. The romance itself was ok, I wasn’t rooting for it to go either way. I think I was waiting on the fantasy too much to worry about the romance. If you are a fan of romantasy, be forewarned. If you are a fan of historical romance with a touch of mythology, I think you’ll enjoy it.

Book was average good and I did like the banter between the two main characters, but it had so much promise and just fell a little flat for me. The book was a little too slow for my liking and it made it seem like a chore to get into. I know there are many readers that will love this one though! 3 stars

I was absolutely sold when I saw folklore/mythology and time travel in the description, but The Gods Time Forgot fell flat for me. I think it was more of me and not finding my groove whilst reading the story because I found it hard to follow. I didn’t connect with it as I hoped but still a solid writing debut.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a chance to read and give a honest review an advanced copy of this book.

Happy release week to The Gods Time Forgot, the debut novel by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez. Set in New York during the Gilded Age, this novel opens with Rua awakening with amnesia. The people around her claim she’s Emma Harrington, daughter of a local wealthy family, but she’s certain she’s not. As Rua navigates the season in Manhattan, she’s trying to uncover the truth behind her identity and why she’s here. She’s also drawn to Finn, the Lord of Donore, an Irish man working his way up in society. Is there a connection there? What does he know of her past?

Why I Chose This Book:
I was excited to read a book drawn from Irish mythology, and the mystery surrounding Rua had my interested piqued. It’s also set in the 1870s, which is contemporary with many of the historical romances I enjoy. Here, it’s set in New York rather than England, making the setting feel fresh.

What I Liked:
- Rua is such a fun character! She’s temperamental and can’t be bothered to play nice with 1870s society. She’s strong-willed… a good match for her cold-hearted “mother,” Flossie.
- Finn! He’s conflicted, to be sure, but at his heart he’s a good person who just wants to help others, from orphans to people in fires to Rua when she’s bullied by everyone.
- Memory loss, mysteries, and hints of magic. For most of the book, we don’t really know what’s going on. Who is Rua and how did she get here? What happened to Emma? Are these hellmouths real? Does Rua have magical abilities? And what is this faint connection between Rua and Finn? We’re all in the dark until the last 20% or so.
- Feminism and critique of upper classes. Rua regularly fights against the restrictions and rules she faces as a woman. Finn simultaneously seems to dislike the wealthy, even if he wants to use his growing wealth to help those less fortunate.
- Irish mythology. Much about this isn’t revealed until late in the book, but I loved the nods to Irish legend and culture.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Is Rua a likable character in the end? Does she deserve a second chance?
- The ending still leaves some questions unanswered. I didn’t find it rushed, exactly, but I was hoping for a bit more explanation on some things.

Final Thoughts
The Gods Time Forgot is a thoughtful and mysterious novel that will keep you guessing until the end. It’s marketed as a romantasy, though it’s more subtle than most romantasies being published now. Even so, if you like the hint of magic and a forbidden romance set in the Gilded Age, with a thread of Irish mythology woven throughout, this is an engrossing read. I look forward to reading more from Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez.

The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez is a historical romantasy set in 1870s New York City, blending Irish mythology with the opulence of the Gilded Age. The narrative follows Rua, who awakens with amnesia, inhabiting the life of Emma, a young woman previously ostracized for her dabbling in magic. As Rua navigates high society's expectations, she encounters Finn, an Irish lord with his own enigmatic past, leading to a complex relationship filled with tension and discovery.

However, I had some issues with the plot's pacing and depth. The beginning felt engaging but then it slowed down a lot. I liked the idea of it being set in a different time and world than most romantasy books.

In summary, The Gods Time Forgot offers a unique fusion of historical romance and fantasy elements.

3.75 rounded up

Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

To be so honest, I have no idea why it took me so long to read this. I got the arc in october (OCTOBER) and only just finished it two days after release which I am very sorry for.

I’ve found it hard to form a concrete opinion on this one. I read the last 45% in one sitting and I did enjoy what I was reading. The ending built a great tension until the last chapter, which felt anticlimactic to me. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere of golden age new york and the restraints that came with the social code of the time, but similarly, it bothered me how repetitive things started to get with Rua acting out and Flossie’s lack of social awareness. I think the premise is fascinating, I just wish that their memories were more of a thing before the last 20% of the book. The two leads had good chemistry, although it definitely felt a little insta-love in the beginning, which I was only able to forgive because of the indications that they’d known each other in a previous life. I appreciated some of the foreshadowing, but I think my biggest issue with this book lies first in the pacing, which felt uneven, and second in how unbelievable Finn was as a character. He’s saving orphans, running into fires, etc, with a frequency that made it difficult to suspend my disbelief. All of this too and needing money to help his charities is why the charade with Annette must continue (this back and forth and societal pressure was my favorite part of the book save for the moments of miscommunication) but then at the end he just gives it all up without a second thought. That part of his characterization felt a little underdeveloped to me.

Now I don’t mean for this review to be negative. I did enjoy this book. I found the line level writing to be good, the characters to be mostly likable, and this was one of those books that, even if I wasn’t enjoying things, I found myself thinking about it and wanting to read it, so that’s something. It’s also possible that, had I read this at a different time, I would’ve had more concrete or positive opinions. I would definitely give this a read, it is worth it, especially if you like the setting and the amnesia trope.

Apologies for such an inconsistent and non-concrete opinion, but alas that’s what comes to mind at the moment.

Thank you netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was just okay for me. I loved the romance aspect, the banter between the FMC and MMC was great, but as for the plot/writing in general, I just feel like something was off for me.

The Gods Time Forgot delivers good world-building, chemistry, and plot steeped in mythology. I will always love a morally gray character and loads of banter. My only issue was that some pacing felt uneven, but it didn't take away from the overall thrill. Perfect for fans of historical fantasy.

This sounded like everything I’d love in a book: Irish mythology, Gilded Age New York, and a historical romantasy with forbidden romance, mystery, and intertwined fates. The thing I was most excited for was the Irish mythology, but it was hardly present. It was primarily a historical fiction book with a little bit of romance. Most of the storyline was repetitive and centered on Rua going to balls, her acting out against the strict societal norms of the time, and being ostracized by mean girl socialites. The romance between Finn and Rua didn’t really have a foundation, and was too insta-lovey for me. I needed more development and time spent together for their love story to be believable, especially since they were star-crossed fated soulmates. It had so much promise, but it just did not come together like I was hoping. I wanted a fantasy/romantasy set in New York, and this just wasn’t that.
🐦‍⬛
My rating: ⭐️⭐️
🐦‍⬛
Read if you like:
▫️historical fantasy
▫️Irish mythology
▫️gilded age New York
▫️previous life and forgotten memories
▫️forbidden love
🐦‍⬛
Thank you to Alcove Press, Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez, and NetGalley for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Overall, The Gods Time Forgot offers an engaging read for those who appreciate historical settings infused with mythological intrigue, despite some pacing issues and a conclusion that may leave readers wanting more.

I tried so hard to read this book and love it, but I couldn’t. Well, I did finish it, it was a struggle. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.